BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : ANGELS : Langston Vows Not to Miss Next Start

Angel starter Mark Langston says he won't do anything to jeopardize his season, but his pride refuses to let him miss his next scheduled start.

Langston, who came out of Sunday's game with a strained chest muscle, said Monday that he has every intention of starting Friday and keeping his streak intact.

"I'm realistic about it, but if I can pitch I'll be out there," he said. "I still feel it when I twist my body, but I really don't think I'll miss a start."

Langston has pitched at least 223 innings in each of the last seven seasons, a feat duplicated only by Roger Clemens and Frank Viola of the Boston Red Sox. The only time he has been on the disabled list was in 1985 with a strained tendon in his left elbow.

Just in case Langston is not able to start Friday against the Baltimore Orioles, Manager Buck Rodgers is thinking ahead.

Rodgers is considering starting Julio Valera on Friday, and moving Langston to Sunday, or activating Scott Lewis on Sunday in a bullpen-by-committee start.

"I'm working with the assumption that he'll be OK," Rodgers said of Langston. "But I will be prepared in case he isn't."

If Lewis is activated Friday, when he's eligible to leave the disabled list, Rodgers may go to an 11-man pitching staff. In that case, infielder Torey Lovullo or catcher Ron Tingley are candidates for triple-A Vancouver.

Rodgers on standing alone and waving to the crowd for one minute waiting for the rest of the team to be introduced: "You guys missed it. They allowed five minutes to the program for a standing ovation for my return to Milwaukee." Rodgers once managed the Brewers. . . . Rodgers scheduled a rare two-hour workout for today, a scheduled day off. "We've executed very well, but I don't want them to take anything for granted," he said.